Question

a. Explain the process of how thermal energy is transferred from a spoon in hot soup to the end you hold.

b. Is this process conduction, convection, or radiation?

Answer 1

Hey I think it is by conduction.

Wikipedia: On a microscopic scale, heat conduction occurs as hot, rapidly moving or vibrating atoms and molecules interact with neighboring atoms and molecules, transferring some of their energy (heat) to these neighboring particles. In other words, heat is transferred by conduction when adjacent atoms vibrate against one another.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_transfer#Conduction

So if there is hot soup in the spoon, it will heat up the molecule gradually until it reaches the end of the spoon you are holding.

Answer 2

Thanks !!! I love Wiki .<3

Answer 3

who doesn't! lol

Answer 4

It is definitely conduction.

Answer 5

Yay !

Answer 6

radiation is the transmission of heat by EM waves leaving the body, traveling through space to another body, so it can't be radiation.

conduction is the transmission of heat by means of a gas or liquid moving from higher temperature to lower temperature.

This diagram is helpful:

http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~aalopez/aos101/wk5/heatrans.jpg

Answer 7

Thanks ! James !